Minor Field Studies (MFS)

• You are a registered student on one of University West's study programs and are conducting a thesis or degree project at the bachelor's, magister, or master's level at University West.
• You have not started a doctoral-level education.
  
  
• You are a Swedish citizen or have been registered in Sweden for at least one year at the time of application.
  
  
• You have not previously been awarded an MFS scholarship or other scholarships related to international studies administered by University West for the same period.

You apply by submitting your application though email to international@hv.se

Your application must include:

• Your project plan for the field study (consult with your supervisor and/or department coordinator before submitting your application).
• A short motivation letter (max 2/3 of an A4 page). Note: DO NOT USE AI. Please write your own text.
• A transcript of records from Ladok showing your studies within your program at University West.
• Certificate of personal data (personbevis) or a copy of your passport (your citizenship must be stated, and if you are not a Swedish citizen, a certificate from the Swedish Tax Agency confirming that you have been registered as a resident in Sweden for at least 12 months must be attached).

When reviewing the applications, we assess the following:

• Academic quality and relevance of the field study to your program or subject.
  
  
• Alignment with Swedish development cooperation: The study must take place in a country where Sweden conducts development cooperation and align with one or more relevant strategies within Swedish development aid in the host country.
  
  
• Connection of subject/topic to ongoing research or international work at University West.
  
  
• Study period: The field study must last at least eight consecutive study weeks abroad. If students wish to stay longer, the study period must still be clearly documented or certified.
  
  
• Personal suitability and maturity to carry out the proposed field study.
  
  
• Practical feasibility: Consideration of visa regulations, necessary permits, vaccinations, and restrictions.
  
  
• Field contact person: A local contact supporting the study's implementation.
  
  
• Academic supervision: You must have been assigned an academic supervisor at University West.
  
  
• Thesis language: The thesis or degree project must be written in English.
  
  
• Scholarship history: You must not have been previously granted an MFS scholarship at the same education level.
  
  
• Other scholarships: You must not be awarded another SIDA funded scholarship for the same field study period. If you are applying for funding from another source, this must be included in your application.

Agreement & Checklist:

• You will receive an agreement via email, which you must carefully read before signing. This agreement will include details such as your field study dates (the study itself, not your time abroad), the agreed host country, conditions for payment of funds, infromration spreading activiies, and reporting obligations.
• The International Office will also send you a general checklist to help you prepare for your study period abroad. However, this checklist is not specific to your destination—you should consult your department coordinator or supervisor for country-specific guidance.

Admission Letter & Insurance:

• You will receive an official admission letter confirming your study period, destination, approved funding, and insurance.
• The International Office will arrange insurance coverage through Kammarkollegiet, which will cover your study period abroad. If you plan to stay longer in the country, you must arrange your own travel insurance. The Kammarkollegiet insurance includes coverage for one week before and after your official study period.

Field Study Planning:

• Continue planning your field study in collaboration with
  • your supervisor at University West, who will support you with theoretical preparation and thesis structuring.
  • Your contact person in the host country, who will assist with practical arrangements, local networking, and advisory support. This person may be affiliated with a university, an independent organization, or a development project supported by Sida or the UN.
  • Your department coordinator, who can assist with practical matters. The International Office is also available for support.
• You will participate in a preparatory training program to ensure you are well-equipped for your field study abroad.

Knowledge Sharing Commitment:
Finally, you agree to help promote the MFS program at University West by sharing your experiences in a way of your choice (you will be provided with different options). The goal is to encourage and inspire other students to apply.
 

A common but difficult question to answer.

We have a total of six scholarships to award. However, the number of applicants can vary a great deal from year to year.

Our recommendation for you is to align your project proposal with the selection criteria listed above, as these are the basis for our evaluation.

Beyond that, it is impossible to predict the competition—but submit your application and hope for the best!

For the academic year 2025/26, there are six (6) scholarships available.